Presented by the MSO Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance, in partnership with EastWest Bank, Tchaikovsky’s timeless melodies will come to life in this concert, featuring the Festival Coronation March, Rococo Variations for Cello and Orchestra, and a suite from the ballet Sleeping Beauty.
‘Dancing with Tchaikovsky’ is scheduled on September 27 at
7:30PM at Aliw Theater, Pasay City.
MSJO-Standard Insurance scholar and cello prodigy Damodar Das Castillo will join guest conductor Alexander Vikulov for this evening of Russian Romanticism.
REPERTOIRE
The Coronation March
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Festival Coronation March (1883), written for Tsar Alexander III’s coronation, brims with ceremonial flair through brass fanfares, festive rhythms, and a controversial quote from “God Save the Tsar.” Composed in just weeks, it has since reached global stages, including the opening of Carnegie Hall in 1891, showcasing Tchaikovsky’s gift for music that is both majestic and appealing.
Rococo Variations for Cello
Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme (1877) pays homage to Mozart’s classical elegance through a graceful theme and seven contrasting variations. Demanding both lyricism and virtuosity, it challenges the soloist with soaring melodies, rapid passagework, and intricate cadenzas, making it a cornerstone of the cello repertoire.
Sleeping Beauty Dance Suite
Sleeping Beauty Suite (1889) by Tchaikovsky captures the magic of his ballet of the same title, through a series of orchestral highlights, blending graceful waltzes, lyrical adagios, and character dances. Renowned for its lush orchestration and melodic charm, the suite captures both the elegance of courtly dance and the fairy tale magic that make Sleeping Beauty one of his most enduring stage works.
GUEST ARTISTS
Alexander Vikulov, Russian guest conductor
Born in Saint Petersburg to renowned ballet dancers Sergey Vikulov and Tatiana Udalenkova, Alexander Vikulov has built an international career that bridges opera, ballet, and symphonic music. Since his 2002 Mariinsky Theater debut with Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, he has conducted at the Vienna State Opera, Finnish National Opera, Seoul Arts Center, Teatro Regio di Torino, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Currently permanent guest conductor of the Saint Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra “Klassika” and musical director at Manila’s Star and Aliw Theaters, Vikulov continues to unite cultures through the universal language of music.
Damodar Das Castillo, cello
A top prizewinner of five international competitions including The Young Musician (Tallinn, 2019), the International Anton Rubinstein Competition (Düsseldorf, 2020), The Young Ludwig Competition (Berlin, 2020), the Vienna International Music Competition (2020), and Musica Goritiensis (Italy, 2021), Damodar Das Castillo is one of the most promising young cellists today. He studied at the Pre-College of Mozarteum University Salzburg under Prof. Barbara Lübke-Herzl and, as a scholar of the MSJO–Standard Insurance International Scholarship Program, he performs on a George Gerl cello.
The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), founded in 1926 by Alexander Lippay, is one of Asia’s oldest orchestras and the Philippines’ longest surviving artistic institution. A symbol of resistance during World War II, the MSO has since collaborated with legends under the batons of Andre Kostelanetz, Arthur Fiedler, Mendi Rodan, Robert Feist, Gareth Nair, Helen Quach, and Eduard Strauss II.
Antonio Molina, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, and Ryan Cayabyab have also graced its stage.
Now nearing its 100th year in 2026, the MSO remains one of the country’s most active artistic institutions, presenting world-class performances and nurturing young Filipino talent under Marlon Chen (Music Director) and Jeffrey Solares (Associate Conductor).
TICKETS
VIP P3500
Premium Patron P2800
Regular Patron A P2000
Regular Patron B P1500
General Admission A P1000
General Admission B P650
Reserve your tickets via Ticketworld.
50% off for students; use the code: TCHAIKOVSKYSTUDENT50. Present valid IDs upon entry.
20% off for seniors and PWDs; use the code: TCHAIKOVSKYMSO20. Present valid IDs upon entry.
UPCOMING SHOWS
“The MSO 100th Anniversary Concert” is slated on January 22, 2026 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati. It will feature Muyu Liu, piano; Philippine Madrigal Singers; and Darrell Ang, guest conductor.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
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